The phone screen had already locked, but denying it now would only make it seem a little too much. An Xumo responded as naturally as possible, both in expression and tone, “Mm, senior is my idol.”
Tang Tang didn’t find it strange that her own artist was chasing after a star. The name Zhou Jinchen had been well-known in the circle in recent years—he was the ideal model for anyone dreaming of overnight fame. While An Xumo had exceptional potential, he was still just an unknown trainee. It was only natural for him to admire Zhou Jinchen.
However, admiration was one thing; necessary warnings couldn’t be omitted. As she packed up the meal boxes, Tang Tang said, “Xiao Mo, there’s nothing wrong with chasing stars, but you have to remember your own identity. Once you officially debut, the company will arrange various materials for you. You need to be mindful of boundaries, or who knows how others might spin things if they catch wind of it.”
Tang Tang’s words were blunt, but they served as a very timely reminder. In the entertainment industry, there was no such thing as privacy—an artist’s preferences were all exploitable elements. Having an idol could be a small matter or a big one, but An Xumo had no leverage at the moment. If he wasn’t careful, he could easily be labeled as someone clout-chasing.
“Brother Zhou’ team is the top-tier setup in our company, and his fanbase is particularly loyal. He’s on the actor track, yet his stats are no less than those of top traffic stars.” After finishing her initial reminder, Tang Tang softened her tone, half comforting and half advising, “We don’t need to rush things. Just keep working hard, and you’ll definitely have the chance to collaborate with him in the future.”
An Xumo responded quietly, showing no signs of discomfort. Tang Tang assumed he had taken her words to heart, unaware that, for An Xumo, her advice was completely unnecessary.
He had been hiding his emotions for over ten years—far longer than any other fan of Zhou Jinchen—and he understood better than anyone how to suppress them.
After lunch, the trainees had an hour of break time. An Xumo had long since gotten used to using this time for extra practice. He was about to head to the dance studio when Tang Tang called him back.
“Right. Han Ming, the one who arranged for you all to appear at the concert, is coming over. He’s selecting a few dancers for his new single. Go wait for him in the lobby first. Make a good first impression—it’ll make it easier to stay in touch later.”
An Xumo hesitated for a moment, only nodding after Tang Tang called his name again.
Tang Tang had other matters to attend to. After a few more reminders, she let An Xumo go. During the lunch break, the corridor was quiet. An Xumo walked alone for a long time until he reached the railing on the second floor. Looking down, he finally saw some figures moving through the lobby on the first floor.
Jin Dian was a massive company with a very luxurious interior. The spacious lobby was bright and pristine, with floors polished enough to reflect one’s image. People occasionally passed through, and a few trainees sat in the booth-style sofas to the side, seemingly casual but clearly keeping an eye on the entrance.
Surrounded by emptiness, standing atop this stage of fame and fortune adorned with heavy makeup and pretense, An Xumo found himself standing in this high-class building countless people dreamed of reaching. The windows were spotless, the lighting was warm, yet hunger swept over him like a gust of wind through an open hall, sudden and overwhelming.
The staircase was easy to find. When An Xumo descended to the first-floor lobby, the trainees immediately noticed him. An Xumo didn’t notice the unfriendly gazes directed his way, simply finding a quiet corner behind the stairs to sit alone.
The lobby was vast, so much so that its daily cleaning was divided between two separate teams. An Xumo sat in an inconspicuous spot where he could clearly see those entering through the doors, but others would find it difficult to notice him.
The wait wasn’t long. Before long, Han Ming’s figure appeared at the entrance. Han Ming was a prime example of a successful solo debut after leaving a group. His appearance was striking, and after securing opportunities, he made the most of them. After skyrocketing to fame through a variety show, he hadn’t neglected his core skills in singing and dancing. Now, he was capable of holding solo concerts in China, with VIP seats being resold at triple the original price.
Despite having debuted only three years ago and not yet having solidified his foundation, to these trainees who had yet to debut, Han Ming was already a senior star beyond reach. They waited here eagerly, hoping for a chance to strike up a conversation with this senior.
However, when Han Ming finally stepped inside, everyone’s attention was instantly stolen by someone else.
Accompanying Han Ming into the lobby was a young man nearly 1.9 meters tall. Both had long legs and tall statures, yet standing together, their differences were strikingly clear. The man who drew all eyes had an imposing presence and an exceptionally outstanding appearance. In terms of looking at his appearance alone, he was even more stunning than Han Ming, who had debuted as an idol.
This was no exaggeration. Setting aside everything else, the media was always eager to use the largest headlines and the most captivating descriptions to praise this man’s looks, knowing they would guarantee surging readership every time. Yet, even with all the flowery words, no retelling could fully capture his allure without losing some part of it.
Despite debuting as an actor, he held two records: the highest solo magazine sales and the fastest sellout of limited-edition issues. Over the years, his refined temperament had only enhanced his appearance, making him more breathtaking and awe-inspiring with each passing year.
—The man walking into the lobby alongside Han Ming was none other than Zhou Jinchen.
Only the trainees seeking opportunities from Han Ming had been keeping an eye on him, but the moment Zhou Jinchen appeared, all attention was instantly drawn to him instead.
Jin Dian was an established entertainment conglomerate, with countless celebrities coming and going daily. Any random star from the company was enough to capture public attention. Even so, the people present were momentarily stunned by the sheer impact of his presence. It took a while before they could regain their composure.
Once they snapped out of it, they realized that Han Ming was engaged in conversation with Zhou Jinchen. The latter was dressed in a custom-tailored black suit, which not only made him look even more striking but also indicated something else—he was likely on his way to attend a highly formal event.
Compared to the surrounding onlookers’ reaction, Han Ming’s demeanor remained calm and composed. He was undoubtedly good-looking himself, though he paled slightly in comparison to Zhou Jinchen. However, his poised manner of speaking still made him an appealing presence.
The lobby was spacious, and those nearby couldn’t make out the details of their conversation. They could only see Han Ming chatting enthusiastically, while the usually reserved Zhou Jinchen didn’t seem entirely uninterested either. He said something brief, and Han Ming immediately broke into a pleased smile. The atmosphere between them that moment let the bystanders hesitate to interrupt.
However, after just a few steps, a few unfamiliar young men approached to greet them. Whether due to the unexpected turn of events or the overwhelming aura Zhou Jinchen exuded, they rushed forward so clumsily that they couldn’t even introduce themselves properly.
Han Ming, who had been casually joking earlier, immediately adjusted his expression. He didn’t react much, simply glancing at the name tags on their chests before giving them a polite nod and moving on without lingering.
Seeing the trainees gathering around Han Ming, An Xumo, who had been sitting in the distance, suddenly remembered his own task. He was supposed to greet Han Ming as well. But with that person there, there was no way he could go up and start a conversation now.
Left with no other choice, An Xumo could only apologize to Tang Tang in his heart.
Compared to An Xumo, it was the other trainees who were truly filled with regret. But at this moment, Han Ming and Zhou Jinchen had already entered the elevator, leaving them no chance to salvage the situation. What was meant to be an opportunity to leave a good impression had instead turned into a disaster. Worse still, they had made a rash and discourteous impression in front of Zhou Jinchen. First impressions were crucial, and now, they would have to work ten times harder to make up for it.
Meanwhile, An Xumo, who hadn’t stepped forward at all, was ironically the most at ease. Even the hunger he had felt earlier had mostly subsided. With half an hour of lunch break remaining and Han Ming already gone, he had no other tasks left. He initially planned to resume extra training but then recalled Tang Tang mentioning adjustments to his new training schedule. Pausing his steps toward the upper floor, he took out the company-issued trainee phone and sent Tang Tang a message.
Training and debuting newcomers in groups was a standard cost-cutting and risk-reducing strategy for the company. However, An Xumo had already proven his value in the competitive environment at the bottom tier, which meant the company was bound to make new considerations for him. The original group training was no longer suitable for his current situation, and now that he had a manager, he needed to start a new training plan.
Tang Tang was still busy, so she only replied with a short WeChat message telling him to wait a little. Since the manager wasn’t available, An Xumo couldn’t go directly to the second-floor offices, so he simply stayed in the lobby, waiting for her response.
Not long after, just as the lobby had settled into calm again, small commotion arose. Snapped out of his thoughts, An Xumo looked up—only to be startled by a familiar figure.
Just ten meters away, coming down the stairs, was none other than Zhou Jinchen, the very person who had been occupying his mind moments ago. This time, he was alone—Han Ming was nowhere to be seen.
Unlike the others in the lobby, who were all subtly trying to attract Zhou Jinchen’s attention, An Xumo’s heart was racing wildly, and even his stomach tightened with a mix of sweet and sour nervousness. He didn’t dare make a sound, holding his breath as if staying perfectly still would keep him from being noticed.
Fortunately, Zhou Jinchen didn’t seem to pay attention to his surroundings. He was never the type to engage in casual socializing, nor did he need to build connections through small talk. Without stopping in the lobby, he quickly exited the Jin Dian building.
An Xumo had yet to recover from his nervousness when his phone suddenly vibrated against his leg, making him jump again. When he finally calmed down enough to check, he saw a message from Tang Tang. She was arranging his new training plan and told him not to rush—he could rest for now.
Tang Tang understood An Xumo’s personality well, so she never pressured him to over-train. Instead, she tried to help him balance work and rest. An Xumo sent her a quick thank-you message but soon found himself troubled over where to go next.
Staying in the lobby was out of the question—who knew who else he might run into? But aside from the dance studio and the vocal practice room, he didn’t really have anywhere else to go.
As he was thinking, his leg suddenly vibrated again. He assumed it was another notification from Tang Tang and instinctively reached for his phone, only to realize that the company phone was still in his right hand.
If it wasn’t the company phone…
An Xumo’s back stiffened once more.
He hurriedly fished out his personal phone from his other pocket. As the screen lit up automatically, the name displayed on it was the only person he dared not even think about.
Taking a deep breath, An Xumo felt more nervous now than he had ever been while waiting backstage before a performance. His palm was slick with sweat, and it took two tries before his fingers managed to answer the call.
“…Hello… Brother?”
The person on the other end didn’t seem to notice his nerves. A deep, magnetic voice resonated through the phone, sending a tremor down the back of An Xumo’s pale ears. Zhou Jinchen’s low voice was as famous as his looks, and An Xumo had to dig his nails into his palm just to focus on what was being said.
“Grandfather’s birthday banquet tonight. Come to the main house.”
An Xumo’s lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something, but after opening and closing his mouth a few times, no words came out.
He knew about the banquet, but attending had never been part of his plans. No one wanted him there on a joyous occasion, and he never expected Zhou Jinchen to call him back for it.
This was completely outside of An Xumo’s expectations. He had every reason to refuse. No one in that house wanted to see him, and he himself still had classes to attend—dance practice, lessons, workouts, rest…
His schedule was packed with classes, yet none of those reasons were enough to change his decision.
—An Xumo had no way to refuse an opportunity to meet Zhou Jinchen.
Just like the fleeting glimpse he had stolen earlier—he had been terrified, yet he indulged in it willingly. His empty stomach felt as if it had been filled with cheese and honey, soft and sweet, warming him from the inside out.
As An Xumo remained silent, the voice on the other end spoke again. The sound of a car door opening and closing accompanied the deep male voice: “Turn on your location. The driver will pick you up.”
His personal phone had a security system, and An Xumo had forgotten to disable location tracking earlier. He had never given it much thought—because no one had ever come looking for him.
So now, just as Zhou Jinchen finished speaking, a soft “beep” sounded—a notification indicating an active location ping. The faint chime seemed to explode across the signal between them.
A sweet, mechanical female voice announced on the other end, “Destination reached.”
An Xumo swallowed with difficulty, his voice as dry as his parched lips. Quietly, he said, “Brother… I’m at the place you just left.”
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Daily stable updates, please bookmark -3-!
The gong and shou aren’t biologically related. This is an alternate universe where same-sex marriage is legal. Their names are derived from a Chinese idiom: 望尘莫及 (wàng chén mò jí), meaning “far beyond reach.” It signifies both an unattainable crush and the idea of longing for “Chen” while “Mo” remains out of reach~
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